Kite boat, kite boating, kiteboating. Whatever you want to call it, check out this site. Kite boats do more than just go down wind. Jeremy Waitt curcamnavigates the IOW showing all that kite boats go upwind as fast as any other sailing craft. Read on...

Jeremy Waitt and Chris Burk complete the first navigation around the Isle of Wight on their Kite Boat. Based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight the campaign continues...

The First Ever Circumnavigation Under Kite Power by Jeremy Waitt.

Jeremy Waitt and the Kiteboat.co.uk team celebrate as Jeremy and Chris Bull finish the final leg of a groundbreaking journey on Monday 28th June 2004. After years of dreaming and planning the first part of the Kiteboat challenge (circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight) was completed. With many problems along the way Jeremy and Chris “kite sailed” the boat into Sandown Bay averaging over 10knts.

Having left the Kiteboat at Brook (nr Freshwater) on the southwest side of the island having completed two thirds of the trip the previous week Jeremy re-launched and “kite-sailed” to the finish point (point of original departure)

Kirsty Jones (Current British Female Kitesurf Champion) commented, “I think its a fantastic achievement and shows the diversity of using a kite power. The difficulty of the circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight, which takes the ability to go up and down-wind makes this a brilliant challenge to have completed. Undertaking this challenge brings on the unknown, which is always difficult to overcome. I wish Jeremy and the team the best of luck in future Kiteboat challenges and will be watching their progress with interest”.

Kirsty also added “The excitement of sharing the experience of kitesurfing in this way must be awesome”.

Jeremy said “other professional kitesurfers have spoken to me about the challenge. They all seem excited and happy for the kiteboat.co.uk team. I am especially glad to be able to hand over the money raised and hope that it has bought some awareness to all the good work the Ellen Mcarther trust has done in bringing happiness to so many”.

Completing this part of the challenge is the first step but hopefully it will be a snowball effect in terms of momentum”. We are looking for a sponsor to cover minor costs that come with innovation and challenge”. I would like to thank all the people and companies that have made this achievement possible”.

The 15.2nm final leg took the pair 1h36 minutes making the completed total 7h 49m and an approx overall distance of 51.4nm (95.1km).

Yesterday After 6h12minutes Jeremy Waitt (30) and Chris Burk (21) had to abandon their attempt to Kiteboat round the Island. The pair had been going well despite changeable conditions. The two left Yaverland (Nr. Sandown) on the south side of the island at 12:33 in light Force 3/4 South Easterly winds. After a short time they were gibing down the Solent to Cowes.

As they passed Cowes the wind had freshened to a F4/5 (still from the SE) with the tide this allowed for a quick passage up the Western Solent. Within Thirty minutes the pair were at the Needles. With the wind now a solid Force 5/6 the pair’s passage from the Needles to Freshwater was a rough and daunting affair. With the tide and wind together slow progress was made. However, the two battled on for another one and a half hours reaching Brook (5.7 NM/10.6K).

The two covered a total distance of 35.6NM or 67K. With only 17NM to go the frustrated pair had to concede, as the wind increased to a steady F6. With the light and visibility worsening the pair thought it prudent to finish. Jeremy said “it’s a real shame and we are obviously disappointed that we have had to finish here with only a quarter of the distance to go, however I have experienced first hand gale force winds many a time, putting people at risk in bad conditions without real reason is no way to go about this challenge. It does however; strengthen the enormity of this challenge both on equipment and personnel. In a world where new and interesting challenges are hard to find the Round The Island and Atlantic Kiteboat project offers that and much much more.”

“Had the wind shifted slightly to the South then we could have completed the challenge. We will finish this trip after the gales have clamed down. Which will set the record for a kite trip Round the Island. However, the time will be easy to beat and it will not be a non-stop record. The decision to attempt a non-stop attempt at a later date will be dependant on sponsorship as fuel and costs and time are mounting.

The pair both in good spirits was in agreement that passing the needles in the kiteboat was a massive achievement and very exciting. “We passed very close to the lighthouse and it must have looked awesome, we where going 20knts at that point” stated Jeremy Waitt.

Chris Bull who was attempting a separate challenge, kiteboarding Round the Island also had to pull out at the needles as conditions worsened. His trip ended as the wind increased at the needles. His twenty-meter kite was too big in the strong winds. After changing down to a smaller kite with use of the safety craft Chris started to make ground but against the a strong ebbing tide his speed over the ground was too slow to continue. “I am disappointed but the experience of this has encouraged me to give it another go when the forecast and conditions are more advantageous” Chris stated today.

This website aims to follow Jeremy Waitt's quest to take kite powered craft to a new level. This website holds the latest information and is a hub for contacts, people, and news related to the project.

Whilst some of the equipment has been given at very good prices this project needs money to keep it alive. This is an amazingly photogenic idea and concept. With a T.V deal on the table this is a great chance for somebody to get involved.

We would like to thank all the people that have given us support up to know and look forward to promoting their businesses.